Cigarette lighter

ABSTRACT

A burner includes a body, a connector and a handle. The body includes a nozzle mounted thereon and a valve mounted thereon and operable to adjust the rate at which gas leaves the nozzle and hence the intensity of fire generated thereby. The connector is connected to the valve so that the connector can be operated to drive the valve. The handle is connected to the connector so that the handle can be operated to drive the connector.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a cigarette lighter and, more particularly, to a cigarette lighter with an apparatus for adjusting the intensity of fire generated thereby.

2. Related Prior Art

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there are shown a conventional cigarette lighter 1 and a screwdriver 6. The cigarette lighter 1 is shown upside down. The cigarette lighter 1 includes a body 2 and a valve 4. An aperture 3 is defined in the bottom of the body 2. The valve 4 includes an upper portion disposed in the body 2, a lower portion exposed from the aperture 3 and a groove 5 defined in the lower portion. The valve 4 can be turned to adjust the intensity of fire generated by the cigarette lighter 1. A tip 7 of the screwdriver 6 is inserted in the groove 5 of the valve 4 so that the valve 4 is turned when the screwdriver 6 is operated. The adjusting of the intensity of the fire generated by the cigarette lighter 1 is important. It would be a waste of gas if the fire is too intense. On the contrary, the fire could easily be extinguished by wind if it is too weak. However, it is troublesome to get a screwdriver for turning the valve 4, and a screwdriver is sometimes nowhere to find.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, a burner includes a body, a connector and a handle. The body includes a nozzle mounted thereon and a valve mounted thereon and operable to adjust the rate at which gas leaves the nozzle and hence the intensity of fire generated thereby. The connector is connected to the valve so that the connector can be operated to drive the valve. The handle is connected to the connector so that the handle can be operated to drive the connector.

The primary advantage of the cigarette lighter is easy adjusting of the intensity of the fire generated thereby without requiring any other tool.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description referring to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described through detailed illustration of two embodiments in view of a conventional cigarette lighter referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional cigarette lighter with an apparatus for adjusting the intensity of fire generated thereby and a screwdriver for turning the adjusting apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the conventional cigarette lighter and the screwdriver in another position than shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cigarette lighter with an apparatus for adjusting fire produced thereby according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the adjusting apparatus shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cigarette lighter taken along a line 5-5 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cigarette lighter in another position than shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cigarette lighter of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the cigarette lighter shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the adjusting apparatus taken along a line 9-9 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a torch according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 3 through 5, there is shown a cigarette lighter 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The cigarette lighter 10 includes a body 20, a connector 30 and a handle 40.

The body 20 includes an aperture 21 defined therein, a valve 22 with an upper portion disposed in the body 20 and a lower portion exposed from the aperture 21, a nozzle 23 mounted on the body 20 opposite to the valve 22, a button 24 mounted on the body 20, an ear 25 formed on the body 20 and a cover 26 pivotally connected to the ear 25 by a pin 27. The valve 22 can be turned to adjust the rate at which gas leaves the nozzle 23 and therefore the intensity of fire generated by combusting the gas. The button 24 is part of an igniter. Hence, a spark is generated near the nozzle 23 every time the button 24 is pushed. The cover 26 is used to cover the nozzle 23.

The aperture 21 is defined by an edge. A chamfer 211 is made in the edge around the aperture 21. The valve 22 is formed with a plurality of teeth 221.

The connector 30 is connected to the valve 22 within the aperture 21. The connector 30 includes an upper portion and a lower portion. A U-shaped space 31 is defined below the upper portion of the connector 30 and beside the lower portion. The U-shaped space 31 is defined by a ceiling 311 and two walls 312. A plurality of teeth 321 is formed on the wall of an axial aperture 32 defined in the connector 30. Two transverse recesses 33 are defined in the lower portion of the connector 30. The teeth 321 are engaged with teeth 221 so that the connector 30 is connected to the valve 22 and that the connector 30 can be turned to turn the valve 22.

The handle 40 is connected to the connector 30 so that the handle 40 can be pivoted between an idle position and active position. In the idle position, the handle 40 is disposed within the aperture 21. In the active position, the handle 40 is located outside of the aperture 21 so that it can be operated. The handle 40 is formed with a first side 401 and a second side 402. When the handle 40 is located in the idle position of shown in FIG. 5, the first side 401 thereof becomes an upper side while the second side 402 becomes a lower side. The first side 401 of the handle 40 is located against the ceiling 311 of the U-shaped space 31. When the handle 40 is located in the active position shown in FIG. 7, the second side 402 is located against the walls 312 of the U-shaped space 31.

The handle 40 is formed with a middle portion 42 and two lateral portions 44 extended from the middle portion 42. Each of the lateral portions 44 of the handle 40 is formed with pivot 41. The pivots 41 are inserted in the transverse recesses 33 so that the handle 40 is pivotally connected to the connector 30. A wing 421 is extended from the middle portion 42 of the handle 40 near the second side 402.

Referring to FIG. 5, the handle 40 is located in the idle position. The handle 40 is disposed in the aperture 21 the wing 421 is disposed in the chamfer 211. Hence, the intensity of the fire generated by the cigarette lighter 10 will not be accidentally adjusted by operating the handle 40. With the wing 421 made smaller than the chamfer 211, the handle 40 can easily be pivoted to the active position from the idle position on purpose.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the handle 40 is located in the active position. Referring to FIG. 8, by operating the handle 40, the valve 22 can be pivoted. In the position shown in FIG. 7, the fire generated by the cigarette lighter 10 is weak. In the position shown in FIG. 9, the fire generated by the cigarette lighter 10 is intense.

Referring to FIG. 10, there is shown a torch 10′ according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The torch 10′ is like the cigarette lighter 10 except including a body 20′ instead of the body 20. The body 20′ is like the body 20 except a few things. Firstly, the body 20′ includes a nozzle 23′ connected to a neck 28 extended from the body 20′ instead of the nozzle 23 directly mounted on the body 20. Secondly, the ear 25, the cover 26 and the pin 27 are omitted.

The primary advantage of the cigarette lighter is easy adjusting of the intensity of the fire generated thereby without requiring any other tool.

The present invention has been described through the illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims. 

1. A burner comprising: a body comprising a nozzle mounted thereon and a valve mounted thereon and operable to adjust the rate at which gas leaves the nozzle and hence the intensity of fire generated thereby; a connector connected to the valve so that the connector can be operated to drive the valve; and a handle connected to the connector so that the handle can be operated to drive the connector.
 2. The burner according to claim 1 wherein the connector defines an axial aperture in which the valve is fit.
 3. The burner according to claim 2 wherein the valve comprises a plurality of teeth formed thereon, and the connector comprises a plurality of teeth formed on the wall of the axial aperture for engagement with the teeth of the valve.
 4. The burner according to claim 1 wherein the body comprises an aperture defined therein for receiving the connector and the handle.
 5. The burner according to claim 4 wherein the handle is pivotally connected to the connector between an idle position in the aperture of the body and an active position outside the aperture of the body.
 6. The burner according to claim 5 wherein the connector comprises a space defined therein for receiving the handle.
 7. The burner according to claim 5 wherein the connector comprises two transverse recesses defined therein, and the handle comprises two pivots inserted in the recesses of the connector.
 8. The burner according to claim 7 wherein the handle comprises a middle portion and two lateral portions extended from the middle portion, and each of the pivots is extended from a related one of the lateral portions.
 9. The burner according to claim 8 wherein the handle comprises a wing extended from the middle portion, and the body comprises a chamfer defined in the edge of the aperture thereof for receiving the wing in the idle position of the handle.
 10. The burner according to claim 1 wherein the burner is a cigarette lighter.
 11. The burner according to claim 10 comprising a button mounted on the body so that a spark is generated near the nozzle every time the button is pushed.
 12. The burner according to claim 1 comprising a cover pivotally connected to the body for covering the nozzle.
 13. The burner according to claim 12 wherein the body comprises an ear formed thereon and connected to the cover.
 14. The burner according to claim 13 comprising a pin for pivotally connecting the cover to the ear.
 15. The burner according to claim 1 wherein the burner is a torch.
 16. The burner according to claim 15 comprising a neck for connecting the nozzle to the body. 